Automatic air line connecter



June 16, 1931.

D. B. M TAGGART AUTOMATIC AIR LINE GONNECTER Filed July 5, 1928 Plb 5Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR D M 1 M:

BY Maz ATTORNEY June 16, 1931. D. B. M TAGGART AUTOMATIC AEIIR LINECONNECTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1928 INVENTOR Daniel z'wggnrtATTORN EY June 16, 1931. B, MCTAGGART 1,810,778

AUTOMATIC AIR LINE CONNECTER Filed July 5, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 N U? HRt I a I I H I l f l i I Q a W N N Ii $3 a I N N j J M 3 w w i INVENTOR.Darniel .B. 111 9 3 032 ATTORNEY June 16, 1931. D, B. MOTAGGART1,810,778

AUTOMATIC AIR LINE 'CONNECTER Filed July 5, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 4ATTORNEY D. B. M TAGGART 1,810,778

AUTOMATIC AIR LINE-CONNECTER Filed July 5, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 We 1. m

as a F l a z 1 gag; 1 1 z z 2 \U a x w z 1 0 L. 4 $233 A z Z June 16,1931.

ATTORNEY Patented June 16, 1931 UNITED srarns DANIEL B. MOIAGGART,OFIBUTTE, MONTANA AUTOMATIC AIR LINE CONNECTER Application-filed July 5,

My invention relates to automatic train pipe connectors and an ob ect ofthe invention is to provide a connecter of this character whereby twoadjacent ends of a train railway ar is lower than the draw bar of a 13'second car. V

V The invention also contemplates valve means which are operable to openand closed positions incident to the coupling and uncoupling operationsof the conventional draw bar couplingelements but if desired may bemanually actuated.

With the preceding and other objects and advantages in mind, theinvention consists in the novel combination of elements, constructionsand arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically referred to,claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1is a fragmentary side elevation -of two adjacent railway cars coupledtogether with my invention associated therewith,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of theinvention associated with the usualcar'coupling with the coupling members in mating rela tion, the carcoupling and 'draw bars being illustrated in broken lines, I Figure 3 isa similar view illustrating the car coupling in uncoupled position andthe coupling members disengaged,

Figure at is a longitudinal section taken on linel,l of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2,-

1928. Serial No. 290,602.

Figure 6is a horizontal section taken on line 6 6 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail view of the valve operating mechanismembodied in the invention, j 5

Figure 8v is a perspective of one ofthe valve elements embodied in theinvention,

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 2. V

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary de- 55. tail view illustrating theauxiliary bleeder valve embodied in the invention,

'Figure 11 is a detail view illustrating the position of the valve whenthe connecter is in disengaged position, and

Figure 12 is a similar view showing the position of the'valve whenswitching a can.

Referring to the invention in detail a pair of coupling members 5 and 6,each of which is associated with a coupling jaw or knuckle 7 of aconventional car coupling, is pro-' vided. Each of these couplingmembers 5 and 6 are identical in construction and therefore a detaildescription of one will suffice for both.

A U-shaped yoke 8 is arranged below the outer end of the draw bar withits parallel legs arranged horizontally. The upper leg of the yoketerminates in an enlargement 9 which is loosely received in the underface 7 of the draw bar so that the yoke maybe free to swingslightly'laterally. The enlargement and the extremity of the lower legis provided with vertically alined openings 10 through which arelatively long pin 11 passes, and which extends through one of theknuckles'or jaws of the conventional car coupling to support the yokeand constitute a pivotfor such knuckle or jaw;

Vertically movable in the yoke 8 is a U-shaped member 12 whose lower legterininates in a substantially rectangular downwardly curved apron 13. Alongitudinal groove 14 is provided in the rear face of the vertical legof this Ushaped member which '16 which is also slidable on the pin.

slidably embraces the inner face of the vertical leg of the yoke 8,while the extremities of the legs of the U-shaped member is pro-' videdwith coinciding openings 15 through which the pin 11 passes to slidablysupport the forward end of the U-shaped member. Projecting from theunder face of the lower leg of the U-shaped member 12 in verticalalinement with the openings 15, is a sleeve To normally urge theU-shaped member upwardly to. cause its upper leg to abut the upper legof the yoke, an expansible coil spring 17 is received on the pin withits lower end abutting the lower leg of the yoke and its upper endbearing against the under face of the apron.

Slidably mounted in the U-shaped member 12 is a rectangular head18-having a tapered or bevelled forward end 19. The head is providedwith a longitudinal slot 20 through which the pin passes to permit thehead to move longitudinally relative to the pin. Normally the head isurged in a forward direction by means of an expansible coil spring 21encircling oppositely extending bosses 22 projecting from the head 18and the vertical leg of the U-shaped member 12, respectively, andbearing against such parts. To retain the head against lateral shifting,parallel longitudinally extending guide ribs 23 are formed on the upperface of the head and normally extend along the longitudinal edges of theupper leg of the U-shaped member.

Formed on the rear end of the head and projecting laterally from theinner side thereof is a substantially V-shaped casting '24, one leg ofwhich terminates in an obliquely disposed wing 25 whose forward end isbevelled or rounded from its lower edge to its upper edge, as at 26. Atits point of juncture with the head the V-sha-ped casting is formed withan air passageway 27 having a lateral branch 28 at its inner end whichopens upon the inner face of the casting. At its rear end thispassageway communicates with a cylindrical valve casing 29 havingcommunication with the usual air hose 30, and containing a hollow rotaryvalve 31 for controlling the passage of air to the passageway 27. Withthe two coupling members in mated relation, as illustrated in Figure 6,the lateral branch 28 of each casting is in registration. In order to'provide a seal between these lateral branches hollow piston 32 isslidable in each ofthe branches and carries a compressible gasket 33 inits outer end. To limit the longitudinal movement of the piston a pairof vertical former and the walls of the lateral branch 28. It will beobserved that upon passage of air into the passageway 27, pressure willbe built up behind the pistons which thrusts them outwardly andmaintains them in abutting relation to provide an air-tight seal attheir opposed ends as long as air is permitted to pass through the valve31.

The valve 31 is provided with diametrically opposed ports 35 adapted toregister with diametrically opposed ports 36in the valve casing. Theperiphery of the valve is further provided with diametrically opposedgrooves 37 which are adapted to bring the ports 36 in communication withbleed ports '38 and'38ca in the valve casing at predetermined times.

F orthe purpose of opening and closing the valve 31 incident to thelongitudinal movement of the head 18, an L-shaped arm 39 having arelatively long longitudinal slot 40 in one of its legs receiving anupstanding rectangular extension 41 formed on the upper end ofthe-valve, is provided. A relatively short longitudinal slot 42-isformed in the other leg of the arm and receives a pivot pin 43 which iscarried by the upper face of the upper leg of the U-shaped member 12adjacent its rear end. It will be seen that upon rearward movement ofthe head the arm will be shifted rearwardly until the rear end wall ofthe slot 42 abuts the pivot 43; At this time the continued rearwardmovement of the arm causes the valve to rotate to dispose the ports 35in registration with the ports 36 in the valve casing and thuspermit airpressure to flow into the passageway 27. When the head moves forwardlyto normal position under theinfluence ofthe spring 21 the arm is movedin the reverse direction to rotate the valve to a position where theports 35 will be disposed to one side of the ports 36, and one of thegrooves in communication with the bleed port 38a and adjacent port 36,as illustrated in Figures 11 and 12- to permit air from the passageway27 to bleed to the atmosphere.

In order to maintain air pressure in the air hose 30, as when switchingcars, a latch element 44 is pivoted to one leg of the L- shaped arm 39adjacent one end of the slot 42 and is provided with a rounded shoulder45 adapted to abut the pivot 43 when the latch element is swung to thedotted line position illustrated in Figure 7. When the latch element isswung against the pivot the arm is shifted from the position illustratedin Figures 2 and 6 to the position illustrated in Figure llto severcommunication between the air hose 30 and the bleed port 38, butestablishing communication between one of the ports 36 and the port 38a.

In order to throw the latch element to normal position, as illustratedin full linesin Figure 7 ,a spring pressed trip 46 is pivoted to therear end of the U-shaped member 12 and is adapted to be engaged by a pin47 depending from the under face of the latch element when the head ismoved rearwardly against the action of the spring 21.

For the purpose of moving the latch element into engagement with thepivot pin 43, a chain or other flexible element 48 is connected with oneend of the latch element and in turn is operatively connected with apivoted actuating lever 49. If desired, the valve 31 may be actuatedmanually and to that end a handle 50 is formed on one of the legs of theL-shaped arm. i

The valve 31 is balanced at its ends to insure free rotation thereof inits casing and to that end openings 51 are provided in the ends of thevalve to permit air pressure to be built up in the valve casing at itsupper and lower ends. In this connection it will be seen that airpressure in the ends of the valve casing acts on the ends of the valveso that the valve camiot contact with the end walls of the casing.

In addition to bleeding the passageway 27 from the bleed port 38a, anauxiliary bleed port 52 is provided in one side of the head,

which is normally closed by a spring pressed valve 53 whose steinnormally rests on a horizontally disposed pivoted arm 54 carried by thehead below the valve which has an offset portion 55 terminating in aninclined extension 56 adapted to ride on a laterally projecting pin 57extending from one side of the U-shaped member 12. It will be seen thatas the head moves forwardly under the influence of its spring theinclined extension, riding over the pin 57 lifts the arm against thevalve, unseating the latter to permit the passageway 27 to bleed to theatmosphere.

In practice the win 25 of each of the cow 'pling members rides over theaprons 13 as the coupling members approach each other. To facilitate themovement of the wing 25 over the apron, a roller 58 is journalled on ahorizontally disposed pin 59, projecting laterally from the lower leg ofthe U-shaped member below the apron, and projects through a transverseslot 60 provided in the apron adjacent the end thereof.

In the operation of the invention the wing 25 of one of the couplingmembers rides over the apron of the other coupling member to depress itsU-shaped members 12 against the action of the. corresponding spring 17until the heads lie in horizontal alinement. As the coupling of the jawsor knuckles 7 is affected, the heads 18 pass into the V-shaped castings,as illustrated in Figure 6. Due to the impact of the mating of the headswith the castings, the heads are moved longitudinally inoppositedirections which rotates the valve 31 of each coupling member toestablish communication of the air passageways 27, through the medium ofthe pivoted arm 39. It will be apparent that as long as the couplingmembers are in mated relation an air-tight passageway between the twowill be maintained. However, when one of the coupling members isdisengaged from the other, the springs 21, projecting the headsforwardly to normal position, causes the valve to be rotated to closedposition through the medium of their associated pivoted arms 39.

Should it be desired to switch a car, the latch element is swung intoengagement with the pivot 43. The L-shaped'arm 39 can now be manuallyactuated to dispose the valve 31 in the position disclosed in Figure 11to maintain an air pressure in the air hose but permit the passageway 27to bleed to" the atmosphere.

What is claimed is 1. In an air line connecter, a pair of like membersfor interfitting'relation each having an air passageway having lateral 1branches which register when the members are in interfitting relation,and a hollow piston slidable ineach lateral branch and held in abuttingrelation by air passing through the passageway to provide an air passageof air to the passageways.

3. In an air line connecter the combination with two adjacent draw bars,oifset' parallel yokes depending from the draw bars each. having a pairof vertical parallel guides, a resiliently mounted U-shaped membersupported in eachyoke and normally heldat the upper end thereof andslidable in the guides, a resiliently urged head slidable in eachU-shaped member and having air passages. therein adapted to be arrangedin registration with each other, and means for depressing either of theU-shaped members to dispose the heads in mating relation.

4. In an air line connecter, a pair of U-shape d yoke's to be supportedfrom the adjacent ends of a pair of draw bars and arranged with theirparallel parts horizontal, a horizontally disposed U-shaped memberslidably engaged with the intermediate leg of each yoke, a verticalguide I at the forward end of each yoke upon which the forward end ofone of the U-shaped members is slidable, resilient means normally urgingeach of the U-shaped members to the upper ends of the yokes, oppositelymovable resiliently urged heads slidable in the U-shaped members andeach having an air passage therein, co-operating means carried by theheads to depress one of the latter to cause the heads to move intomating relation when the draw bars are moved to wards each other andthus dispose the passageways in registration.

5. In an air line connecter, a pair of mountings to be mounted on theadjacent ends of railway rolling stock in offset relation and eachhaving a pair of vertical parallel guides, a yieldably mounted membersupported in each of the mountings for vertical movement on each pair ofthe guides,-

and a cushioned coupling head slidably mounted in each of said members,a down-' wardly curved apron projecting forwardly from each couplinghead, and a wing also pro ect1ng from each coupling head 1n longi-'tudinal alinement with one of the aprons,

pansible coil spring encircling the pin and yieldably supporting saidmember, and a coupling head mounted in said member for longitudinalmovement.

7. In an automatic connecter, a pair of Ll-shaped yokes to be supportedfrom the adjacentends of railway rolling stock, a vertical pin passingthrough the parallel legsof each U-shaped yoke forsupporting the same inoperative position, a depressible member slidable on one pin andvertical leg vertically and its parallel legs removably supported on thepin, a depressible air line coupling head mounted on the pin andintermediate leg of the U-shaped member, and an expansible coil springencircling the pin and engaging the lower horizontal leg of the U-shapedmember and bearing against the coupling head to urge the same in contactwith the upper horizontal leg of the U-shaped member.

DANIEL B. MOTAGGART.

of each yoke, expansible springs on the pins 7 and engaging the underfaces of the depressible members to yieldably support the latter, and acushioned coupling head longitudinally movable in each of thedepressible' members, and cooperating means on the coupling heads anddepressible members for depressing either of the U-shaped members to aposition where it is in horizontal alinement with the other depressiblemember as the coupling heads assume mating relation.

8. In an air line coupling, a'pin adapted to be supported vertically bythe coupling head of a draw bar, a U-shaped member arranged with itsintermediate leg extending

